Employer costs for retirement and savings plans, June 2006

Retirement and savings costs were higher, both in amount and as a proportion of total compensation for union workers ($2.42 and 7.0 percent of total compensation) than for nonunion workers (73 cents and 3.1 percent of total compensation).

Retirement and savings costs were higher per hour worked in goods-producing industries ($1.51 and 5.1 percent of total compensation) than in service-providing industries (76 cents and 3.2 percent of total compensation).

The cost of all employee benefits—including paid leave, supplemental pay, insurance, legally required benefits, as well as retirement and savings plans—averaged $7.39 per hour worked in private industry in June 2006. Wages and salaries averaged $17.77 per hour.